Supply-reservoir.



A. F. BOYLAN.

SUPPLY RESERVOIR. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1915.

QWQWQD Patented Dec. 5,1916.

AARON F. BOYLAN, OF JDENISON, IOWA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1216.

Application filed April 6, 1915. Serial No. 19,585.

To all whom it may concern Be. it known that I, AARON F. BoYLAN, a

.citizen of the United States, residing at tain the gasolene at an approximately fixed 'level in the tank automatically.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type above mentioned so constructed that when the engine is not running, all of the gasolene in the tank can not evaporate away, means being provided 4 for closing the tank against communication with the atmosphere.

A further object of the invention is to prevent a leakage of air into the tank at starting, it being well known that an air leakage into the tank renders the starting of the motor dificult.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structureof the sort above mentioned which operates in a novel manner, by

suction, to accumulate gasolene in the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a'structure of the kind herein disclosed which will have a maximum ower for drawing the gasolene into the tan the structure maintaining a maximum eficien'cy so far as its lifting power is concerned.

It is within the province ofthe invention to produce a supply reservoir which will operate satisfactorily without the use of springs.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without-departing from. the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 ture is desired. The valve head 18 is cir -controlled by a check valve 11. Branched shows the invention in longitudinal section, k parts appearing in elevation; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

. Tn carrying out the present invention there is provided a tank 1 and entering the tank 1 in or adjacent its top is a pipe 2 which leads to a source of gasolene supply S. In the pipe 2 is interposed a check valve 3 which closes in a direction away from the tank 1. Entering the top of the tank 1 is a pipe 4 which leads to the manifold of the engine, (not shown). In the pipe 4: is mounted a check valve 5 which closes toward the tank 1. The lower or inner end of the pipe 111s provided with a valve seat 6. In the bottom of the tank 1 there is placed a drain cock 8 and the bottom of the tank is entered by a delivery pipe 50 which leads to the carbureter of the engine C. The pipe 50 is provided with a check valve 51 which closes toward the tank 1'.

Extended transversely of the tank 1 is a partition 11 dividing the interior of the tank into compartments 12 and 14. The partition 11 is provided with an opening 15.

Projecting transversely of the tank 1- from the wall thereof is a bracket 16 in which is mounted for reciprocating movement a stem 17 constituting a part of the valve head 18 shaped as shown at 24 to cooperate with the seat .6 and including a finger 2O entering the end of the pipe 4. The parts 17, 18 and 20 preferably are fashioned from aluminum, since lightness in this portion of the struccumscribed by a groove 19 defining shoulders 36.

Fixed to and depending from the top of the tank 1 is a hanger 21 upon which is fulcrumed at 37 a lever 22 provided as shown inldig. 2 with fingers 23 embracing the reduced portion of the valve head 18 between the shoulders 36. Pivoted as shown at 25 to the lever 22 is an upstanding stem 26 slidable in an air supply pipe 9 entering the tank 1. The air supply pipe 9 is'provided with a depending air inlet nipple 40 off from the pipe 9 is'a pipe 12 which enters the tank 1 and communicates with the compartment 14 below the partition 11.

The invention comprises a float 28 having a guide tube 29 receiving the stem 17 loosely,

so that the float may rise and fall independently of the stem. Below the fioat 28, the

stem 17 carries a float engaging abutment 30 which may be a cotter pin or the like.

A lever 32 extends transversely of the tank 1 and is fulcrumed as shown at 33 upon a bracket carried by the partition 11. Operatively connected at 34 with one end of the lever 22 is a stem 38 constituting a part of a valve 35 upwardly movable to close the opening 15 in the partition 11. The lever 32 is counterweighted at its inner end as shown at 31 so that the weight of the inner end of the lever normally tends to hold the valve 35 closed. At times, the lower end of the stem 17 rests on the inner end of the lever 32 and aids in holding the valve 35 closed.

In practical operation, the valve head 18 is spaced from the seat 6, the opening 15 in the-partition 11 is closed by the valve 35, and the valve 27 is closed. When suction is created in the pipe 4, a partial vacuum is created in the compartment 12, thus drawing liquid through the pipe 2 into the compartment 12. So soon as there is enough liquid in the compartment 12 to raise the float 28 off the abutment 30, the suction in the pipe 4 raises the valve head 18 and the latter closes the pipe 4, cutting off the suction therethrough. At the same time, the valve 27 is opened. The liquid in the compartment 12 now opens the valve 35 and passes by gravity through the opening 15 into the compartment, 14. As the liquid leaves the compartment 12, the float 28 moves downwardly, carrying with it the valvehead 18 and opening the pipe 4. The valve 27 is moved to a closed position at this time.

The operation above described is repeated .until the compartment 14 is full of liquid and until there is enough liquid in the compartment 12 to raise the float 28 and permit the valve head 18 to respond to suction in the pipe 4 and close the latter. The cycle above described is brought about again and again, whenever a small quantity of liquid is removed from the compartment 14 and consequently from the compartment 12.

The valve head 18 is made of aluminum and consequently is so light that if not' drawn down by the float 28, it would remain closed on the seat 6 by suction in the pipe 4. When there is enough liquid in the compartment 12, the float 28 is lifted off the abutment 30 and the valve head 18 can respond to suction, the valve 27 being opened at the same time. If liquid is drawn from the compartment 14 either through the cock 8 or the pipe 50, the liquid thus taken from the compartment 14 is replaced by liquid from the compartment 12, and liquid is discharged into the compartment 12 in the manner hereinbefore set forth. As a consequence, the liquid in the compartment 12 remains substantially at a constant level.

The compartment 14 (owing to the presence of the pipe 42) is always at atmospheric pressure, the liquid entering and leaving the compartment by gravity and not by suction. The valve 35 is opened by the weight of liquid upon it. When there is no weight of liquid on the valve 35, the count rpoise 31 holds the valve closed, and the fluid in the compartment 14 cannot be sucked back into the compartment 12.

The function of the check valve 5 in the pipe 4 is to prevent the contents of the tank 1 from being ignited'by back firing from the manifold. The valve 51 in the pipe 50 serves to prevent an increase of pressure, or stated less exactly, less suction in the tank 1, should the engine backfire through the pipe 50. The check valve 3 in the pipe 2 is located close to the tank 1 and serves to hold the gasolene from running back to a point remote from the tank.

Owing to the presence of the pipe 42, the compartment 14 is kept at atmospheric pressure and the feed to the carbureter is promoted. It is,to be observed that the check valve 41, although admitting air readily, will prevent the gasolene from flowing away should the tank 1 become flooded, as may take place, for instance when the motor propelled vehicle of which the present device constitutes a part is traversing a steep hill.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is In a device of the class described, a tank; a partitionextended entirely across the tank and having an opening; a lower outlet pipe entering the bottom of the tank; a check valve in the lower outlet pipe and closing toward the tank; asupply pipe entering the top of the tank; a check valve in the supply pipe and opening toward the tank; an upper outlet pipe entering the top of the tank; a check valve in the upper outlet pipe and closing toward the tank; a fourth pipe opening at its lower end into the side wall of the tank below the partition and provided at its upper end -with a depending seat opening through the top of the tank and communicating with the tank above the partition, the fourth pipe having a depending air inlet; a gravity check valve controlling the inlet; a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the partition and provided at its inner end with a counterweight; a valve constituting a closure for the opening in the partition and engaging the lower face of the partition, to limit the upward movement of the valve under the action of the counterweight; a lost motion connection between the outer end of the lever and the valve; a bracket projecting from the side wall of the tank above the partition; a stem slidable in the bracket and resting at its lower end on the counterweight, the stem being provided at its upper end with a valve cooperating with the upper outlet pipe and IGSPOIlSlX'G to suction there- With the seat of the fourth pipe; a connection between the last specified valve and the intermediate portion of the second lever; a float in the tank above the partition and 10 slidably mounted on the stem; and a support for the float mounted on the stem above the bracket.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

AARON 1E. BOYLAN.

Witnesses:

A. R. lEtoMANs, P. J. BRANNON. 

